EV10/13 – Stage 2

Logistics

Rowy does not have a railway connection, so when organizing a trip along the EuroVelo 10/13 route, you should plan an overnight stay here. There should be no major problems with this, because as a tourist destination, the accommodation base is well developed here. On the other hand, cyclists who decided to go from the Eastern side can reach Leba by train from Lebork.

Characteristics, mileage, tips

The route runs through the communes of Ustka, Smoldzino, Glowczyce and  Leba city. Slowinski National Park makes it one of the most interesting sections of EuroVelo 10/13. Certainly also the most natural and wild. The impact of the park on the local nature and infrastructure is enormous, therefore, when cycling through these areas, one should not expect many asphalt bicycle routes. Most sections run far from civilization, often through forests or lakeside areas, offering cyclists a natural landscape and nature. The dominant surface at this stage is natural aggregate and concrete used on internal and district roads. We also travel on local roads with low traffic on significant fragments. These are sections between Wysoka and Gardna Wielka, Smoldzino and Wierzchocin, as well as Glowczyce and Izbica.

In Leba itself, there are already bicycle paths or pedestrian and bicycle paths made of asphalt or concrete cubes. Starting this stage in Rowy, you can choose an alternative variant and go on the Northern side of the lake. Gardno through Slowinski National Park. This section runs entirely along a forest road with a surface made of natural aggregate. We join the EuroVelo 10/13 route near the village of Czluchy just before Smoldzino. In Rowy, however, you must buy an admission ticket to the par.

Download the section map in PDF format HERE

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Possible difficulties

It should be taken under consideration that construction works may still be in progress at this stage and some sections are still waiting for implementation. The pavement made of concrete slabs on the roads of the Slowinski National Park and its buffer zone is in poor condition in places. This is especially the case on the western and southern parts of the Gardno Lake. Eastern sections of the lake can also be a bit of a nuisance in places. In Wierzchocin and Gac, there are short fragments of old pavement, in total it is about 1 km. As always, be careful on sections with general traffic. Particular care should be taken between Glowczye and Izbica, where the asphalt is only half the width of the traffic lane. However, vehicle traffic here is very low. The section of the dirt road in the national park from Gac to Zarnowska may also be difficult due to the terrain and natural conditions.

Dedicated parking spaces

• Glowczyce – next to the sports complex (planned location.)
• Leba it – next to the tourist information building.

You will see on the EuroVelo 10/13 route and in the vicinity

• Rowy – a holiday resort located in the immediate vicinity of the Slowinski National Park, a wide range of accommodation and gastronomy. A good starting point for hiking and cycling trips to the Slowinski National Park.
  •  fishing port at the mouth of the Lupawa River.
  • church from the 19th century, built of hewn boulders.
• Viewing tower over the Gardno Lake (Ustka commune) – a wooden tower is located on the western shore of the lake in the Slowiński National Park. Very attractive view of the vast body of water and the surrounding area.
• Retowo (Smoldzino commune) – a vantage point on the Gardno Lake, a surfing base by the lake.
• Gardna Wielka (Smoldzino commune) – a church originally from the 13th century, rebuilt in the 19th century, inside an interesting main altar with an expressionist image of the crucified Christ from the 1930s and stained glass windows from 1920.
• Smoldzino – a church from 1632, a small water power plant on the Lupawa River, the Rowokoł Hill with an observation tower on the top and relics of an early medieval settlement at its foot.
• Czolpino (Smoldzino commune) – a lighthouse from 1875 resembling a castle tower (open to the public), in the vicinity of Czolpinska Dune – a slightly smaller, but equally attractive version of the shifting dunes near Leba.
• Kluki (Smoldzino commune) – an open-air museum of the Museum of the Slowinska Village, which is a complex of characteristic “checkered” residential and farm buildings typical of the former construction of Slowince. The interiors are equipped with old furniture, appliances, tools and everyday objects. Before entering the village, there is an old Slowinski cemetery with a large number of original iron crosses.
  • Glowczyce – a neo-Gothic church from the late 19th century, ruins of a 19th-20th century palace, burnt down in 2020.
  • Izbica (Glowczyce commune) – the church of St. Joseph from 1930.
  • Łeba – next to Sopot, Wladysławowo and Ustka, the most popular seaside resort in the Pomorskie Voivodeship.
• Slowinski National Park – a natural curiosity on a European scale (World Biosphere Reserve). In addition to the famous shifting dunes in the vicinity of Leba (they are actually in the Smoldzino commune), the park protects the coastal lakes Lebsko, Gardno, Dolgie Wielkie and Dolgie Male), vast areas of swamps, peat bogs, forests and meadows. In the park, you should only move on designated roads. There are several hiking trails and many educational and nature trails. Flowing into the lakes Lebsko, Lupawa River is also a kayaking trail.
• The former spa house – an architectural symbol of Leba with a silhouette resembling a castle, built on a high escarpment above the beach in the beginning of the 19th century. Twentieth century. Currently, the accommodation facility is called Leba Castle.
• Kosciuszko Street – a popular promenade with preserved old fishermen’s houses, where there are shops, bars and cafes. The oldest house dates from 1723 and is located at No. 86.
• –  Fishing port – located on the Chelst Canal, numerous cutters and cruise ships moor here, a perfect place to eat good fish or buy it fresh straight from the fishermen.
• Marina – a large yacht port is located on the western side of the estuary section of the Leba River, has places for 120 vessels of various sizes
•  Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from 1683.
• Ruins of the Gothic church of St. Nicholas – actually a fragment of the brick wall of the Gothic temple, which once stood in the heart of Leba. Currently, it is the western part of the city located in the seaside forest.
• Attractions for children: Leba Park – a dinosaur park, Butterfly Museum, Power Park Leba, Labyrinth Leba Park, Funland – Inflatable Amusement Park, Discovery Park.
• Czolpino (Smoldzino commune) – a lighthouse from 1875 resembling a castle tower (open to the public), in the vicinity of Czolpinska Dune – a slightly smaller, but equally attractive version of the shifting dunes near Leba.Kluki (Smoldzino commune) – an open-air museum of the Museum of the Slowinska Village, which is a complex of characteristic “checkered” residential and farm buildings typical of the former construction of Slowince. The interiors are equipped with old furniture, appliances, tools and everyday objects. Before entering the village, there is an old Slowinski cemetery with a large number of original iron crosses.Glowczyce – a neo-Gothic church from the late 19th century, ruins of a 19th-20th century palace, burnt down in 2020.Izbica (Glowczyce commune) – the church of St. Joseph from 1930.Leba – next to Sopot, Wladysławowo and Ustka, the most popular seaside resort in the Pomorskie Voivodeship.

Unobvious attractions and other mysterious places on the route and in the vicinity

• Czolpino (Smoldzino commune) – 45 Air Defense Missile Squadron – the area of the former missile squadron unit from the 1970s. Numerous military buildings have been preserved: warehouses, garages and barracks. The area is open to exploration, there is even a viewing platform. Access from the forest car park at the building of the Slowiński National Park Museum in Czolpino.
• Zelazo (Smoldzino commune) – the ruins of a palace from the 18th – 19th centuries and a cemetery with the ruins of the ancestral chapel of the former owners located in the nearby grove.

Other bike trails and excursion suggestions

• The blue trail Jezierzyce – Rowy (approx. 20 km) – leads from the railway station in Jezierzyce to Rowy and on the section along the lake. Gardno coincides with EuroVelo 10/13. The blue Zeppelin trail (about 26 km) also leads from Jezierzyce, along the route of which there are several interesting mansions and palaces and a historic Evangelical cemetery with preserved iron crosses.
• Yellow trail Zlote Piaski (approx. 25 km) – a loop covering the areas of the Slowinski National Park and its buffer zone located north of Smoldzino.